Entry requirements

Statistics and Data Analysis Methods, 5 credits. 15 credits in mathematics are recommended.

Learning outcomes

After the completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• apply the basic principles of energy balance at the earth’s surface as a driver of the hydrological cycle
• explain the origin of local- to global-scale variability in precipitation and evaporation
• describe the main principles of the processes leading to runoff generation, including flood routing and hydrograph propagation
• apply theoretical concepts on the flow of water in porous media in the calculation of soil water and groundwater flow at local scales
• evaluate groundwater storage capacity by hydraulic testing

Content

Theoretical aspects of micrometeorology, energy and water fluxes between earth and the atmosphere. Energy balance, evaporation and precipitation. Hydrological processes in different climatic zones. Mathematical description of basic processes: precipitation, evaporation, snowmelt, runoff, soil-water dynamics and groundwater recharge. River discharge, runoff generation, and flood routing. Soil water and groundwater. Aquifers, land subsidence, groundwater resource evaluation and common groundwater flow equations. Estimation of transmissivity and storativity by Theis and Jacobs methods.

Instruction

Lectures, exercises, project work.

Assessment

The course is graded using a written examination (5 credits), exercises (3 credits), and the written and oral presentation of project work (2 credits).